1992-2002 Dodge Viper: Overview

Vehicle Highlights

After appearing at auto shows as a concept vehicle, Dodge's rear-drive roadster hit dealer showrooms early in the summer of 1991. Only 200 cars were available in that short season, and some sold at far above the $50,000 sticker price. Choices were few in this high-performance rear-drive two-seat sports car, powered by an 8.0-liter V10 engine--America's biggest and most powerful production engine, delivering 400 horsepower. Only a 6-speed manual gearbox could be installed, and it incorporated a forced first-to-fourth gear shift when starting off at light throttle. Exposed exhaust pipes ran along the rocker panels, adding to the Viper's no-holds-barred appearance. Body panels were made of fiberglass-like composite materials, bonded and bolted to a tubular steel frame. Antilock braking and a driver-side airbag were unavailable. Red was the only available body color at first, and Vipers did not even have exterior door handles or roll-up windows. Standard equipment included an FM/AM stereo with cassette player and leather upholstery. Viper met the requirement for passive restraints with door-mounted seatbelts that could be left buckled. Nothing was really like a Viper, but rivals have included the Acura NSX, Chevrolet Corvette, Mitsubishi 3000 GT, and Porsche 911.